222
LAW, ORDER AND RECORDS
with an extension to Hong Kong. One hundred and sixty-one patents were registered during the year as compared with 166 in 1961.
Bankruptcies and Liquidations. During the year the court made six receiving orders and four orders for the compulsory winding up of companies. These cases, however, represent only a small fraction of the number of business failures because few Chinese businessmen care to submit debtors' petitions. At the same time creditors' petitions are kept down partly because creditors are disinclined to incur the high legal costs incidental to a petition, and partly because the court has power to dismiss a petition where it is not satisfied that the assets are sufficient to pay a 15 per cent dividend to unsecured creditors. A company's business failure is usually followed by voluntary liquidation, or the company is simply left to be struck off the register. During 1962, 40 companies were dissolved by voluntary liquidation, and 81 by being struck off the register.
Marriages. All marriages, except non-Christian customary marri- ages, are governed by the Marriage Ordinance. Under this, notice of an intended marriage must be given to the registrar at least 15 clear days before the date of the marriage. The registrar is empowered to reduce this period in special circumstances and the Governor may grant a special licence dispensing with notice altogether. Special licences are, however, granted only in the most exceptional circumstances. Marriages may take place either at places of public worship licensed for the celebration of marriages or at a marriage registry. Ninety-two places of public worship have been licensed for this purpose, and there are four full-time marri- age registries—-three in the urban areas and one in the New Territories. In addition there are five sub-registries in outlying districts operating one day a week or one day a fortnight. All marriage records are maintained at the principal marriage registry, which, on 17th March, was moved from the Supreme Court Build- ing to specially designed accommodation on the first floor of the City Hall High Block. The new registry includes a spacious general office and a large, handsomely decorated and well furnished marriage room with seats for 36 people. During the year 10,241 marriages were performed in marriage registries and sub-registries, and 1,192 at licensed places of worship. The total was 822 less than in 1961.